Temple road widening – more road space – more traffic!

News last week that the road widening at Temple on Bodmin moor had been completed and the road was open.

One of Cornwall’s most important strategic routes has been transformed as the four lanes of dual carriageway between Temple and Higher Carblake on the A30 is now open.

Both Lanes of the A30 Temple to Higher Carblake were open from 6:00am on Friday 14th July. The eastbound carriageway was fully open and running at 70mph, on the 12th July along with one of the bridges at Preeze Cross which opened on the 6th July. It has confirmed that Cardinham Bridge will be open the week commencing 17th July, with Temple Bridge opening by the end of the month. Ancillary works will continue throughout this time and into the Autumn.

Long delays for motorists and queues of up to nine miles during peak season will be a thing of the past, with the improvement expected to bring big tourism benefits to Cornwall, as well as open up access for business investment and economic growth.

The successful completion of the scheme is expected to bring more than £134 million into the Cornish economy each year, and play a key role in the future prosperity of Cornwall by encouraging economic growth and aiding regeneration, business expansion and housing delivery, and supporting tourism.

Comment
Although car drivers may jump up and down for joy, the reality is that widening roads and increasing road capacity is neither economically necessary or environmentally sustainable.

The effect of increasing capacity is to encourage more car traffic whereas the aim should be to reduce car use.

The final sentence above states that “The successful completion of the scheme is expected to bring more than £134 million into the Cornish economy each year, and play a key role in the future prosperity of Cornwall by encouraging economic growth and aiding regeneration, business expansion and housing delivery, and supporting tourism.” In reality the scheme will allow and encourage housing and population growth neither of which will improve the economy. As for supporting tourism – Cornwall is too dependent on a sector which is heavily reliant on car use.

The consequence of the ‘improvement’ will be more traffic on the A30 – which will then lead to congestion and other issues on the rest of the road network; and, higher population and housing growth neither of which are good for Cornwall.

We will end up with the same problem on the road network as before and with a poorer environment.

Again, we should have invested in other modes of transport with an emphasis on a sustainable transport and tourist policy!